Institute for Musculoskeletal Health

Public health researchers and clinicians at @Sydney_Uni and @SydneyLHD.

[Chris Maher @CGMMaher]

A big thanks to my colleagues from @msk_health, a research partnership between @Sydney_Uni and @SydneyLHD, that made all of this possible.

[Abdulaziz Albhlal @AzizAlbhlal]

Congratulations to Professor @CGMMaher on receiving the King Salman award for disability research @kscdr 🇸🇦

A well deserved recognition of his outstanding contribution to health research.

[Fahd DIBSH Alsherifi @FahdDAlsherifi]

Grateful to be featured in APA/InMotion. Straight from our study:
“participants required an additional 12% improvement in knee function or a 41% greater chance of returning to sport for ACL surgery to be considered worthwhile.” https://t.co/P9vTuRLB3V
@msk_health @zadro_josh

[Chathurani Sigera @chathuranispt]

First piece in The Lancet is definitely worth celebrating! 😊

I’m very pleased to share that our RESHAP-ED trial has been published in The Lancet, together with an accompanying editorial.

Read more:
https://t.co/uauTprhVyW
@msk_health

[Institute for Musculoskeletal Health @msk_health]

Congratulations on this publication to all involved! This review is an important contribution to advancing physical activity measurement and supporting implementation and translation in healthcare.

📄 Read the paper: https://t.co/HQfk5c1B7m

[Institute for Musculoskeletal Health @msk_health]

New scoping review led by Melody Leung (PhD Candidate) incl. 108 studies & provides a comprehensive overview of how direct observation has been used to assess patient movement and activity in hospitals.

📄 Read the paper: https://t.co/HQfk5c1B7m

[Institute for Musculoskeletal Health @msk_health]

This work has informed 2 of our implementation studies focused on ⬆️ patient activity & preventing falls in hospitals (SureStep & PROTECT). It highlights real-world application in supporting design, eval & implementation of inpatient mobility and falls prevention interventions.

[Gemma Altinger @GemmaAltinger]

🧵We ran a randomised trial within a trial to test two text-message #nudges on #PatientReportedOutcome response rates.

Both beat standard invitations (+3.9% prosocial framing, +6.9% prize draw).

Published in @JClinEpi https://t.co/lk5MiUjhka

[Gemma Altinger @GemmaAltinger]

Thank you to everyone who supported this amazing study! @adrian_traeger @SweekritiSharma @Caitlin_Jones_ @CGMMaher @msk_health @SydneyMSK @wiserhealthcare

[Chris Maher @CGMMaher]

Pleased to win my age group in city2surf as part of @msk_health team
https://t.co/MByFh8oyLZ

[Bench Side Story @BenchSideStory]

GERONTOLOGICAL PHYSIOTHERAPY IN FALLS PREVENTION AND PREHABILITATION

With
Dr Rik Dawson,
Gerontological Physiotherapist & Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute for Musculoskeletal Health @msk_health, University of Sydney @ & National President, Australian Physiotherapy Association @apaphysio

RESEARCHER PROFILE
Filmed in Sydney, Australia | August 2026

Dr Rik Dawson is a gerontological physiotherapist and health leader dedicated to improving healthy ageing through evidence-based physiotherapy, digital health and health system reform. As a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney, and President of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, he combines research and policy to improve access to high quality care for older people.

With more than 30 years of experience across clinical practice Dr Dawson founded Agewell Physiotherapy, growing it into one of Australia's largest aged care physiotherapy providers before selling the business in 2020. He now leads TOP UP Therapy, a digital health company translating his PhD research into practice through an evidence-based strength and balance exercise platform that demonstrated that physiotherapist led telehealth exercise can improve mobility, reduce falls and help older people remain independent.

Dr Dawson provides national leadership in aged care, workforce and primary care reform and serves on several Australian Government advisory committees, including the Strengthening Medicare Implementation Oversight Committee. He is also a member of Falls Prevention Alliance Australia and the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance. His research has attracted funding from the Medical Research Future Fund, ARIIA @ariia_org, Dementia Australia @DementiaAus and the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases, with collaborations across Australia and Brazil.

Outside work, Dr Dawson is a trained opera singer with a Bachelor of Creative Arts, a certified yoga instructor and a regular volunteer leading singalongs in residential aged care. He is married to a physiotherapist, has a daughter who is a physiotherapist and a son studying psychology.

Source: Supplied
SEE OTHER RESEARCHER PROFILES
Bench Side Story @BenchSideStory
https://t.co/vzQCTpFOVv

Get your own interviews and research published on Bench Side Story
https://t.co/Qrj09SzaeC

[Joshua Zadro @zadro_josh]

Dry needling is different to acupuncture. So what’s involved? And is it effective? https://t.co/hmUtqoCS22 via @ConversationEDU @giovanni_ef @PeterStubbsPT @msk_health

[Institute for Musculoskeletal Health @msk_health]

@PEDro_database @CathieSherr @GeraldineWallb1 @syd_health This funding will support PEDro's journey as a social enterprise, helping to strengthen PEDro's long-term sustainability and maximise the global impact of evidence-based physiotherapy.

[Institute for Musculoskeletal Health @msk_health]

Exciting news for @PEDro_database!

Co-led by Prof @CathieSherr and Dr @GeraldineWallb1, we're delighted to receive Proof of Concept funding from the University of Sydney's DVCR Strategic Research Impact Fund.

@syd_health

[Institute for Musculoskeletal Health @msk_health]

@PEDro_database @CathieSherr @GeraldineWallb1 @syd_health The scheme provides up to 14 months of funding for emerging entrepreneurs to bridge the gap between early-stage research and market readiness, with two targeted streams for social enterprise projects and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) projects.

[Institute for Musculoskeletal Health @msk_health]

@mabpinheiro, @CathieSherr and @LouisePearce_ recently had an article published in The Policymaker, highlighting the importance of a coordinated strategy to prevent falls and promote healthy ageing. @JMIPublicPolicy

Read more here: https://t.co/P4M66tG1mn

[Institute for Musculoskeletal Health @msk_health]

Congratulations to Dr Chathurani Sigera, Oral Presentation Winner in the Pain and Musculoskeletal category at the USYD Faculty of Medicine and Health HDR Conference this week!

[Institute for Musculoskeletal Health @msk_health]

Congratulations to our PROTECT and RESHAP-ED teams who won their categories at the 2026 Sydney Excellence Awards last night 🎉

We also congratulate our PROMOTE-PA and RECITAL teams who were highly commended for their work.

https://t.co/fiyBDKlxzp

https://t.co/EZil96m7Xi

[Institute for Musculoskeletal Health @msk_health]

Our students presented their research in the 3 minute thesis competition, oral presentations and posters.

Congratulations to all our HDRs 🎉

[Institute for Musculoskeletal Health @msk_health]

Over the past 2 days our HDRs have been presenting at the FMH HDR Conference!